Talk sheds light on story of toymaker-turned aviation manufacturer
The next in the series of historical talks hosted by Sleaford Museum will shed light on the story of a local toymaker who became a wartime aviation manufacturer.
John Dale will be recounting the life of Sleaford-born First World War Military Medallist Leonard Short.
A self-taught woodworker, he emigrated to Canada in 1927 as part of the ’3,000 family scheme’.
Settling in Saskatchewan, Leonard would later set up with others the firm S & S Aircraft, designing and making wooden propellers used on aircraft such as the De Havilland Tiger Moth and Avro Anson.
He made a significant contribution to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan – a major program for training Allied air crews during the Second World War.
The talk entitled ‘Leonard Short M.M. (1893-1989) Sleaford Toy Maker to Canadian WW2 Propellers & Hurricane Fuel Tanks’ will be given on Tuesday, May 26, starting at 7.30pm at St Denys’ Church Room, Market Place, Sleaford, and will be followed by the museum trust’s AGM.
Refreshments will be available, donations welcome.